2013-07-15 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – July 15, 2013 Chair Sylvester introduced Mike Robinson who provided a power point presentation which may be found on the DHHL website, “Dept. of Hawaiian Home Lands Beneficiary Consultation Aina Mauna Legacy Program”. Mike Robinson shared that the Land Management Division based in Hilo is responsible for the east side of Mauna Kea – the area of Humuula and Piihonua ahupuaas – which is now called Aina Mauna. It’s 56,000 continuous acres representing about 25% of the trust lands. Formed in 1920 by a federal act – “Our mission is to manage the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust effectively, and to develop and deliver land to native Hawaiians. We will partner with others towards developing self-sufficient and healthy communities”. The Hawaiian phrase – Aina Ho’opulapula, “From the Land we Flourish” Gorse once established it’s very difficult to eradicate. Destruction of existing gorse plants is only the start in achieving long term eradication and eradication of gorse in a single herbicide application is difficult. Chemicals or herbicides today, typically, with several applications will treat to get an infestation under control. Gorse seeds can live 50-70 years in the soil. Basically, if there’s a change in management during a 50 to 70 year period – gorse will quickly re-establish itself. Short term tools and solutions such as clearing, grazing and burning help contain and control gorse but have proven unreliable over many decades. These solutions are fairly ineffective in the long term – meaning 50 to 70 years – however dense shade relies on natural forces to weaken and subdue gorse in the long term – in essence we have nature fighting nature. Gorse is native to the British Isles and western Europe. It’s a pre-barbed wire plant – the English settlers who settled South Africa, Australia and New Zealand took this plant with them because they used it to control their livestock. Gorse has become a noxious weed throughout the world and is ideally suited for high elevation temperate climates like Humuula and the east side of Mauna Kea. The first record found is in January 5, 1891. A gentleman named August Hannenberg was the manager of the sheep station and he kept a daily journal and in his journal, he talked about sending his worker Kramer to Puu O, the old Doc Stanley ranch, to kill that Australian weed – gorse. 4